Belgian composer Dominique Lawalrée is responsible for some of last century’s most criminally overlooked minimalist pieces, and some of the most candidly beautiful, too. If you don’t trust me, ask Gavin Bryars: he has deemed them “a quiet, understated music that is both touching and elegant.” The highlights from four of Lawalrée’s albums, originally released on the composer’s own Editions Walrus label between 1978-1982, have been compiled by Catch Wave/Ergot Records and will soon be released as First Meeting. The upcoming record’s centerpiece, “La Maison Des 5 Elements,” is a synth-addled study of piano counterpoint and found sounds that starts not unlike a children’s lullaby, yet gradually develops into a deep-seated, immersive meditation, somewhat comparable in tone to David Bowie’s “Warszawa.” It is a supple, streamlined piece, almost bashful but marked with exceptional emotional directness.

First Meeting is out February 24 on Catch Wave Ltd. and Ergot Records. You can pre-order the compilation here.